Track-cleaner and switch-thrower



(No Mode-Ly 1. W. HBWIT.

,TRAQK CLEANER AND'SWITGH THRUWER.

No. 522,898. Patented July 10, 1894.

V I/min i IEIII UNITED STATES i PATENT Orrrcni ISAAC WILLIAM unwrr, or AKRON, oHIo.

TRACK-CLEAN ER AND SWlTCH-THROWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,898, dated J dly 10, 1894.

Serial No. 502,] 63. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it knpwn that I, IsAAo WILLIAM HEWIT, of Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-0leaners and Switch-Throwers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification My invention relates to an improved track cleaner and switch thrower; and the object of the same is to provide an efficient means of throwing tramway switches without leaving the car, and also for keeping the track and its groove clear of obstructions.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved mechanism in position on a car. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the operating parts detached from the car. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

A is the truck frame and extending longitudinally therewith is bar 13 pivotally secured at its outer end thereto. Extending upward from the inner end of said bar is arm 0 to which is connected bell crank lever D, and

from the latter leads the rod E to bell crank lever F to which latter is secured the operating rod G standing vertically on the car platform and provided near its lower end with the foot spur G. This bar or rod serves to adjust vertically the switch throwing and track cleaning mechanisms, while a pressure from the operatorsfoot on spur G will force the track cleaner to the rail and thus aid materially in removing the accumulations thereon.

The switch thrower consists of the revoluble arm l-I journaled to the bar I supported by and extending parallel with bar B, and provided atits upper end with crank H. Extending from this crank is rod J to the operating crank shaft K on the car platform. The crank of this last mentioned shaft is provided with the depending stop K which engages a catch 712 projecting from the car dash as shown,

and by this means the switch throwing device is held rigid after having been adjusted to perform its function.

At the lower end of arm H is shoe L which travels in the groove of the rail when bar B is let down by the mechanism before described, and by means of the operating shaft K the shoeLis turned and the switch point M shifted in the desired direction. The track sides are provided with the opposite depressions N at the point of the switch so as to afford the shoe access to the latter.

Arranged in the rear of the switch throwing mechanism and pivotally secured to bar B is the track cleaning arm 0, slotted at its upper end to move on bar I, and coiled about the latter is spring P. which bears on the upper end of said arm to hold it in a vertical position but which yields to a backward movement of the same whenever an obstruction on the track of a fixed nature is encountered, such as uneven rail joints, at.

Extending transversely through the lower end of arm 0 are the bolts 0 upon which is adjustable the vertically slotted cleaning shoe Q, which is V-shaped as shown and which forms a plow for removing the loosened material from the rail. As the same is slotted vertically it may be adjusted either up or down as desired.

The whole device may be raised above the rail when not desired for use, but when needed it is most conveniently lowered by the mechanism on the car platform. The track cleaner serves to remove all slush and fine snow from the track which accumulates in cold weather and which causes the car wheels to slip when being stopped.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a device of the class described the combination of pivotal bar B, a means for elevating its free end, bar I supported by and above the first named bar, arm 0 pivoted between its ends to bar B and recessed at its upper end to move on bar I, and a spring on I 2; The combination of a truck frame, pivoted bar B and a means for raising and lowering it, bar I supported by and above said bar, a switch throwing crank arm supported by said frame and depending over the track, and a means for turning said arm, substantially as shown and described.

The combination of a truck frame, bar B pivotaily secured thereto and a means for raising and lowering it, bar I supported by andabove said first named bar, aswitch throwing arm supported by said frame and having a crank at its upper end and a shoe at its lower end, an operating shaft on the car platform, and a connection between the same and the switch throwing arm, substantially as shown 15 and described.

4:. The combination of a switch throwing mechanism, a crank shaft for operating it, a stop depending from the shaft, and a catch for engaging said stop, for the purpose, sub- 20 stantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC WILLIAM HEWVIT.

Witnesses:

ELBIE K. FOLTZ, PETER FINDLAY. 

